USA High School Yearbooks by State and County
MACMULLEN
John Wallace MacMullen, 80, of 706 Oak St., Convoy, died at 8:40 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2004, at Convoy Care Center.
He was born July 18, 1923, in Orange, Va., the son of the late John Wallace and Jane Elizabeth (Cornwell) MacMullen. On January 10, 1984, he married Burnice Murphy, who died June 1, 1996.
Mr. MacMullen was a former bookkeeper for a chemical company. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving from December 9, 1942, until December 8, 1948. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.
Survivors include two daughters, Martha Joan (Donald) Vonderau of Convoy and Patty (Lowell) Etzler of Greenwich; a brother, John G. MacMullen of North Fort Myers, Fla., and six stepgrandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Bill Mohr.
Graveside funeral services will be held at noon Friday, May 14, at Dayton National Cemetery.
There will be no calling hours.
Arrangements were made by Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert.
BRANAM
Arline Eck Branam, 95, of Van Wert, died at 5:10 a.m. Friday, May 14, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born December 5, 1908, in Van Wert, the daughter of the late Edward Ronald and Goldie (DeLong) Eck. On October 24, 1928, she married Harvey J. Branam, who retired as Van Wert fire chief and died in 1975.
Mrs. Branam was an artist.
Survivors include a nephew, Theodore Robinson Eck of New Hampshire and Colorado; one niece, Carol Arline Eck Westing of Vermont; numerous grandnieces and nephews and great-grandnephews and nieces; Gary Taylor of Van Wert, a dear lifelong friend and home provider, and Vickie T. Foster of Van Wert, a faithful caregiver and friend.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard William Eck, who died in 1943, and Ralph Homer Eck, who died in 2000.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, May 17, at Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
There will be on calling hours.
Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
THATCHER
D. Marie Thatcher, 82, of Van Wert, died at 3:40 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2004, at Vancrest Health Care Center in Van Wert.
She was born February 3, 1922, in Van Wert County, the daughter of the late Jesse F. and Delta B. (Stout) Adam. On June 21, 1941, she married Kenneth C. Thatcher, who died in 1989.
Mrs. Thatcher was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Pleasant Church in rural Van Wert County.
Survivors include a son, Jeff (Carol) Thatcher of Van Wert; one daughter, Barbara (Ed) Yakos of Van Wert; two grandchildren, Alesia Brown and Derek Thatcher, and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Cooper and Florence Adam.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert, the Rev. Phil Mercer and Rev. Paul Miller officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in rural Van Wert County.
Calling hours are 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Pleasant Church.
SUTTON
Aaron L. Sutton, 80, of 1115 Founders Circle in Van Wert, died at 1:45 a.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at his residence following an extended illness.
He was born December 28, 1923, in Ohio City, the son of the late Charles Harold and Iva Myrtle (Rickard) Sutton. On August 10, 1947, he married Francile Schlemmer, who survives at home.
Mr. Sutton was a retired farmer and painter and a 1941 graduate of Ohio City-Liberty High School. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy and had served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. Following the war, he married the former Francile Schlemmer and moved to Convoy. In Convoy, he farmed and also owned and operated Sutton's Painting Place Painting and Decorating for more than 45 years. Following retirement, he enjoyed 18 years of vacationing in Florida, where he found great pleasure competing within the Florida shuffleboard community. He served in many leadership positions for the Florida Shuffleboard Association and was recently inducted into the Florida Southern District Shuffleboard Association Hall of Fame. He was a 50-year member of American Legion Post 208 in Convoy and, after moving to Van Wert, transferred his membership to Isaac Van Wert Post 178.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Timothy A. (Penny) Sutton of Van Wert, Philip C. (Darlene) Sutton of Marysville and Joel L. (Terri) Sutton of Convoy; a daughter, Kathleen Sutton of Columbus; one brother, Daniel (Maxine) Sutton of Lima; five sisters, Opal Bursley of Elyria, Janice Agler of Decatur, Ind., Pauline (Robert D.) Jones of Ohio City, Hazel Felver of North Manchester, Ind., and Joanna (William) Davis of Kokomo, Ind.; eight grandchildren, Bryce (Dawn) Sutton of Monroeville, Ind., Melissa (Michael) Burman of Tampa, Fla., Michelle (Trevor) Miller of Van Wert, Emily Sutton, Luke Sutton and Benjamin Sutton, all of Marysville, and Jocelyn Sutton and Seth Sutton, both of Convoy, and four great-grandchildren, Alexandra Sutton, Shelbie Sutton and Mariah Sutton, all of Monroeville, and Arin Burman of Tampa. Fla.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl and Gerald Sutton, and two sisters, Leota Sutton and Dorothy Dobbs.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, May 17, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Convoy, with Pastor Michael Saylor officiating. Burial will be in IOOF Cemetery in Convoy, with military graveside rites performed by American Legion Post 208 of Convoy.
Calling hours are 1-7 p.m. Sunday, May 16, at Cowan & Son Funeral Home in Van Wert, and an hour prior to services Monday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or Van Wert County Hospice.
PROXMIRE
Larry W. "Pork" Proxmire, 62,of Payne, died at 5:55 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2004, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind.
He was born May 23, 1941, in Paulding, the son of the late Darell and Thelma (Pease) Proxmire. He was married to Joan E. Proxmire, and she survives.
Mr. Proxmire had retired from Sims Manufacturing in Payne and was currently employed at the PC Workshop in Paulding. He was a member of Flat Rock Lodge 580, Free & Accepted Masons, and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, both in Payne.
In addition to his wife, survivors include two sons, David Proxmire of Hudson, Ind., and Greg Proxmire of Paulding; four daughters, Judy Jennings of Butler, Ind., Nancy Ottinger of Middlebury, Ind., and Anne Deel and Lanette Ruger, both of Paulding; a brother, Rex Proxmire of Ft. Myers, Fla., and 11 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 19, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Payne, with Father G. Allan Fillman officiating. Burial will be in Lehman Cemetery in Payne.
Calling hours are after 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, at Slade Funeral Home in Payne, where a rosary service is planned for 8 p.m. that day.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Payne EMS squad.
KROL
David A. Krol, 54, beloved father, grandfather, brother, son and friend, died at his mother's Van Wert home in the early morning hours of Monday, May 17, 2004. He had been battling cancer since August 1999.
He was born July 13, 1950, in Garfield Heights, the son of Dolores (Matras) Krol, who survives in Van Wert, and the late Alfons Krol.
Mr. Krol was the owner of Krol Siding, Ltd. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert and had been a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was also active in the local American Red Cross chapter and had assisted in many fund-raising projects and local organizations. He enjoyed camping and spending time with his family.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by two sons, Jason (Niki) Krol and Paul Krol, both of Van Wert; two daughters, Lisa (Ron) Shomaeker and Christina Skinner, both of Van Wert; four brothers, John Krol of San Antonio, Texas, Charles Krol of Vallejo, Calif., Matthew Krol of Chicago, Ill., and Christopher (Gina) Krol of Burlington, Vt., and three grandchildren, Kellen Schomaeker and Bailey and Macee Krol.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 20, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Van Wert, with Father Charles Obinwa officiating. Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery in Van Wert.
Calling hours are 6-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 19, followed by a rosary service at 8:30 that evening at Brickner Funeral Home in Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Community Health Professionals hospice program.
NICHOLS
Marguerite E. Nichols, 89, formerly of Delphos, died at 6:15 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2004, at Van Wert Manor nursing home in Van Wert.
She was born June 3, 1914, in Gary, Ind., the son of the late Richard and Zelma (Slentz) Doring. On March 2, 1934, she married Lawrence S. Nichols, who preceded her in death.
Mrs. Nichols was a homemaker.
Survivors include two daughters, Sylvia Stant of Van Wert and Mary Jane (Roger E.) Price of Gainesboro, Tenn.; four grandchildren, John D. Price, Jeffery L. Price, Tracy M. Grilliot and Amy J. Closson, and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Leo F. Doring; one sister, Henrietta Orr; a granddaughter, Stephanie Stant, and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at Wright Cemetery in rural Van Wert County.
Calling hours are noon-2 p.m. Sunday at Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home in Van Wert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
